15 Ways to Prevent Cylinder Head Gasket Failure
A blown head gasket can ruin your day and cost you or a customer a lot of money. Blown head gaskets can be the result of detonation, poor engine cooling, or improper installation. With the help of the gasket experts at Fel-Pro, we’ve identified not one, not six, but 15 ways to prevent head gasket
Determining The Correct Surface Finish
For an ultra-smooth surface finish, know the metallurgy of the castings and the head gasket.
VIDEO: ASE G1 Tip For Head Gasket And Spark Plug Questions
Internal coolant leaks can foul a spark plug and cause a misfire. This video is sponsored by Autolite.
The Evolution Of MLS Gaskets
The first production vehicle to use an MLS gasket was a tiny Isuzu car in Japan.
VIDEO: Inspection Before Disassembly
One of the most forgotten steps before replacing a head gasket is to inspect the entire engine before removing the head and intake manifold. Andrew Markel covers what to look for under the hood, under the car and in the ECM.
VIDEO: Replacing The Head Gasket On Subaru EJ25 Engines
Andrew Markel discusses head gasket jobs on certain Subaru engines, and how you can ensure the complete job is done right the first time.
VIDEO: Symptoms Of A Head Gasket Leak
Andrew Markel discusses common symptoms pointing to a failed or leaking head gasket, and the tools needed to diagnose the issues.
Look Beyond The Gasket To Spot A Head Lift Problem
Head lift is not the whole head that is lifting from the block, but is a distortion in specific areas of the head and block interface where the head gasket is installed. This distortion can damage the head gaskets and head bolts.
Volkswagen VR6 Head Gasket Replacement
The Volkswagen VR6 engine, introduced in 1994, has a narrow “V” configuration that allows six cylinders to be mounted in the same area as a four-cylinder engine. While head gasket failure is not a common occurrence, it does occur on engines where the cooling system has been neglected due to a lack of regular maintenance. With that said, here are seven tips to make a head gasket job a little easier.
Do’s And Don’ts Of Head Gaskets
Do: Clean the Holes To ensure accurate torque values and to avoid cracking the cylinder block, clean any dust, dirt, oil and fluid from the cylinder block head bolt holes before installing the new head gasket and head bolts. Never lubricate the head bolts with a friction-modified oil. Unless otherwise specified, lightly lubricate the bolt
What You Need To Know About Head Gasket Repair
Head gasket repair should not be approached with the mindset of “how cheaply can it be done?” Instead, find the best way to efficiently repair the vehicle so the job will last and so that all possible issues that are somewhat related can be dealt with at the same time. The only thing worse for a customer than paying a large repair bill is paying a large repair bill and then having the car act up for issues that should have been addressed previously.
Diesel Performance Head Gaskets
Head gaskets have a tough job sealing combustion pressures in diesel engines because of their high compression ratios and boost pressures. Diesel engines are typically low revving, high torque motors that are designed to last several hundred thousand miles.
